China’s Influence on Display as Leaders Converge on Island Nation

China has been pouring money into the Pacific Island nation, injecting at least $5.9 billion of infrastructure spending since 2011 into an economy smaller than any U.S. state. The investment has highlighted the region’s growing status as a strategic battleground between China and U.S. allies ahead of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summits, which are bringing Xi, Vice President Mike Pence and other world leaders there this week. A banner advertising the state-owned China Railway Group flew over a construction site near cruise ships being used to house delegations.